Chapter 25
Priest
I leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, watching the circus unfold. Miyori was at the stove, stirring something. Maya was at the island, stealing food off the cutting board, and Raziel let her do whatever she wanted.
"Caine's coming," Miyori said, glancing at me. "With Zia."
I grunted.
"Be nice."
"I'm always nice."
Maya snorted. "You're about as nice as a root canal, Priest."
I shot her a look. She shot one back. Neither of us blinked.
"Shut up, crackhead."
"Former crackhead, liar." She smirked. "You better enjoy this get-together. I give it a week before my sister figures out another one of your lies and you're in the doghouse again."
Raziel sighed, rubbing his temples. "Can you two go one day without trying to kill each other?"
"She started it," I said flatly.
"I didn't start nothing," Maya shot back. "You've been mean since the day I met you."
Raziel grabbed Maya by the waist and pulled her against him. "Shut up and eat your food."
"I'm not hungry."
"You're always hungry."
"Maybe I'm hungry for something else." She grinned in his direction.
I looked away. That was too much information. Miyori groaned.
"Please. Not at my table."
Maya laughed—that loud, unrepentant laugh that made Raziel's whole face soften.
Miyori caught my eye. She smiled—that small, knowing smile that said she saw everything.
A servant led Caine and Zia back into the kitchen.
"Zia!" Maya practically lunged at her, wrapping her in a hug. "You came!" She hugged Miyori next.
"I was told it was mandatory," Zia said flatly, rolling her eyes at Caine. She spoke to Raziel, then her eyes flicked to me. "Priest."
"Zia."
I didn’t like her at all—and not in the playful way I bickered with Maya. She was just too self-righteous.
Caine walked past her, shooting me a cut-it-out look before clapping Raziel on the shoulder. "Are Malachai and Kael coming?"
"No. Malachai's probably recovering from another stab wound he didn't want us to know about," I said, pausing. "And Kael is embarrassed to bring Maya’s cokehead friend out in public."
“Why don’t you ever shut up, Priest?” Maya snapped.
I looked at her. I didn't understand Raziel or Kael. There were so many women in the world—beautiful women who didn't come with baggage, addiction, and a mouth that never stopped running.
But then again, if Miyori came with baggage, I'd burn the world down for her anyway. So maybe I understood more than I wanted to admit.
Maya flipped me off without missing a beat. "Keep talking, Priest. I'll tell Miyori about the time you—"
"Finish that sentence and I'll tell Raziel about the time you—"
"Okay!" Raziel stepped between us. "Enough. Both of you."